Heating your home efficiently means wasting as little fuel and heat as possible, so installing a full set of heating controls is just as important as a new condensing boiler.
Using heating controls is the easiest way to keep your rooms at a comfortable temperature – whilst also reducing your household’s fuel bills and CO2 emissions.
Heating controls allow you to choose when your heating is on, how warm it is and where you want the warmth. They will also ensure that the boiler is only turned on when you really need it.
How can I make my hot water cylinder more efficient?
A.
A thick, insulating jacket for your hot water cylinder costs around £12 and could pay for itself in under a year. Even if your cylinder is already insulated you should check the thickness. If it’s less than 75mm (3 inches) thick, you’ll save energy by replacing it or putting another jacket on top. In addition, by insulating hot water pipes, especially those between the boiler and the hot water cylinder, you can save an extra £10 a year.
Am I heating my house as efficiently as possible?
A.
If you have a central heating boiler that is more than 10 years old it will be less efficient than a modern condensing boiler. An ‘A’ energy rated, high-efficiency condensing boiler with up-to date heating controls could cut your heating bills by up to 30% - and reduce your carbon footprint.
What’s so good about a condensing boiler?
A.
High efficiency condensing boilers convert more than 90% of fuel into heat – that’s about 12% more than a conventional boiler and up to 30% more than older boilers. They work by recovering as much of the waste heat as possible; heat that conventional boilers normally lose through the flue. With less flue gas emissions your carbon footprint is smaller. You also reduce the amount of fuel used, which in turn saves you money on your energy bill.
How important is loft Insulation?
A.
Around 30% of your heating costs could be escaping through your roof. Loft insulation is the most cost effective energy saving measure and the easiest to install – you could even fit it yourself. Adding a 270mm (approx 10.5 inches) layer of insulation could save you around £110 a year.
What about radiators? Can I make them more efficient too?
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Yes: fitting foil panels behind radiators will deflect heat into the room which would normally escape through the wall.
What should I look for in a full set of heating controls?
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A properly controlled heating system should typically have:
- A programmable room thermostat: this gives you the freedom to choose when you want to heat your home - and to what temperature. In other words, it allows you to heat either the whole house or individual rooms, to the level that suits you and exactly when you want. By heating your home and hot water as and when necessary, you save both energy and money.
- A cylinder thermostat (if your home has a boiler with a hot water cylinder): this keeps a constant check on the temperature of the water in a hot-water cylinder. It switches the heat supply from the boiler on and off as necessary, to keep the water at a set temperature. Installing a cylinder thermostat could save you up to £15 and 90kg of CO2 a year.
- Thermostatic radiator valves (TRV’s): these sense the air temperature around them and regulate the flow of hot water entering the radiators. This allows you to control individual room temperatures and to turn off the heating in unused rooms, saving both money and energy.
Is my home sufficiently insulated?
A.
Walls account for a third of heat loss in an un-insulated home, so insulating them can be one of the most effective ways of cutting your fuel bills. Contact a local insulation contractor to obtain a quote.